Jack Nicklaus has won each of golf”s four major tournaments at least three times, so when he has something to say about their importance, people should listen.

Nicklaus, 76, recently told Golf Digest that the U.S. Open was always his most important tournament to win.

“I”m an American, and it”s the championship of my country,” Nicklaus said. “Of the majors, the British Open was No. 2 because it entailed the rest of the world. The PGA was No. 3 because I”m a professional, and to be the best of what I do for a living, that stands for a lot.”

And the Masters?

“It always was my favorite tournament to play,” he said. “Bob Jones was my hero, and I”ve had too many great experiences there to count. But it isn”t a championship exactly, so on that count it doesn”t surpass the other three. I”ll say this: If you conducted a poll among players now on tour, they”d rate the Masters the No. 1 tournament in golf.”